Adjustment of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Man-Made Fiber, Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textile Products Produced or Manufactured in Thailand

COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS

Adjustment of Import Limits for Certain Cotton, Man-Made Fiber,

Silk Blend and Other Vegetable Fiber Textile Products Produced or

Manufactured in Thailand

November 12, 1997.

AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Customs adjusting

import limits.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: November 18, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross Arnold, International Trade

Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of

Commerce, (202) 482-4212. For information on the quota status of these

limits, refer to the Quota Status Reports posted on the bulletin boards

of each Customs port or call (202) 927-5850. For information on

embargoes and quota re-openings, call (202) 482-3715.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1862, as

amended.

The current limit for Categories 334/634 is being increased for

special shift, reducing the limit for Categories 335/635/835, pursuant

to a Memorandum of Understanding dated October 28, 1997 between the

Governments of the United States and Thailand.

A description of the textile and apparel categories in terms of HTS

numbers is available in the CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel Categories

with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see Federal

Register notice 61 FR 66263, published on December 17, 1996). Also see

61 FR 58044, published on November 12, 1996.

D. Michael Hutchinson,

Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements

November 12, 1997.

Commissioner of Customs,

Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC 20229.

Dear Commissioner: This directive amends, but does not cancel,

the directive issued to you on November 4, 1996, by the Chairman,

Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. That

directive concerns imports of certain cotton, wool, man-made fiber,

silk blend and other vegetable fiber textiles and textile products,

produced or manufactured in Thailand and exported during the twelve-

month period beginning on January 1, 1997 and extending through

December 31, 1997.

Effective on November 18, 1997, you are directed to adjust the

limits for the following categories, as provided for under the

Uruguay Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing and a Memorandum of

Understanding dated October 28, 1997 between the Governments of the

United States and Thailand:

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Adjusted twelve-month limit

Category \1\

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Sublevels in Group II

334/634................................... 731,828 dozen.

335/635/835............................... 447,862 dozen.

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\1\ The limits have not been adjusted to account for any imports

exported after December 31, 1996.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has

determined that these actions fall within the foreign affairs

exception of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1).

Sincerely,

D. Michael Hutchinson,

Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements.

[FR Doc. 97-30119 Filed 11-14-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F